| Satpura Range (सतपुड़ा) | |
| Range | |
| Country | India |
|---|---|
| States | Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhatisgarh, Gujarat |
| Rivers | Narmada, Mahanadi, Tapti |
| Highest point | Dhupgarh |
| - elevation | 1,350 m (4,429 ft) |
| - coordinates | |
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Topographic map of India showing the range
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The Satpura Range is a range of hills in central India. The range rises in eastern Gujarat state near the Arabian Sea coast, running east through the border of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh to the east till Chhattisgarh. The range parallels the Vindhya Range to the north, and these two east-west ranges divide Indian Subcontinent into the Indo-Gangetic plain of northern India and the Deccan Plateau of the south. The Narmada River originates from north-eastern end of Satpura & runs in the depression between the Satpura and Vindhya ranges, draining the northern slope of the Satpura range, running west towards the Arabian Sea. The Tapti River originates from eastern-central part of Satpura, crosses the range in the center & further runs at the southern slopes of Satpura towards west meeting the Arabian Sea at Surat, draining central & the southern slopes of the Satpura Range. The Godavari River and its tributaries drain the Deccan plateau, which lies south of the range, and the Mahanadi River drains the easternmost portion of the range. The Godavari and Mahanadi rivers flow into the Bay of Bengal. At its eastern end, the Satpura range meets the hills of the Chota Nagpur Plateau.
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'Satpura`is a sanskrit word,that means seven mountains(sat=seven;pura=mountain).The eastern portion of the range receives more rainfall than the western portion, and the eastern range, together with the Eastern Ghats, constitute the Eastern highlands moist deciduous forests ecoregion. The seasonally dry western portion of the range, together with the Narmada valley and the western Vindhya Range, are within the Narmada valley dry deciduous forests ecoregion.
The Narmada and the Tapi are major rivers that drain into the Arabian Sea. The Narmada originates in eastern Madhya Pradesh and flows west across the state, through a narrow valley between the Vindhya Range and spurs of the Satpura Range. It flows into the Gulf of Khambhat. The Tapi follows a shorter, parallel course, between 80 kilometres (50 mi) and 160 kilometres (99 mi) south of the Narmada, flowing through the states of Maharashtra and Gujarat to drain into the Gulf of Khambhat.
Yawal in the Satpura range is the site of an old fort dating 1200 CE.
Narnala is a hill fortress, whose earliest fortifications predates 1400 CE. First fortifications are believed to have been built by Naryendrapun, a descendant of the Pandavas and a king of Hastinapur. Further construction and expansion continued under successive rulers, including the Bahmani Sultanate.
Most of the Satpura range was heavily forested; but the area has been subject to gradual deforestation in recent decades, although significant stands of forests remain. These forest enclaves provide habitat to several at risk and endangered species, including the Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris), gaur (Bos gaurus), dhole (Cuon alpinus), sloth bear (Melursus ursinus), chousingha (Tetracerus quadricornis), and blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra).
Several protected areas have been earmarked in the area, including the Kanha, Pench, Gugamal and Satpura National Parks, Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve, Melghat Tiger Reserve and the Bori Reserve Forest.
The Satpura Foundation, is a grass-roots organization that coordinates conservation efforts in the area, which continue to face challenges from development and infrastructure projects, logging and poaching.
The national parks and reserves in the Satpura range attract hundreds of thousands of tourists each year.
Toranmal is a hill retreat in Maharashtra. Its Gorakhnath Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva and visited by thousands of devotees on Mahashivratri. Pilgrims often walk barefoot for days from surrounding areas in the Nandurbar district and across Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat to make the yatra to Toranmal through Shahada.
Pachmarhi, another hill retreat in the range, has a range of attractions from its forests, animal reserve, rivers and rocky terrain. It is a popular destination for trekking, fishing and adventure activities.
INS Satpura (F48) is a Shivalik class frigate of the Indian Navy named for the range.
Reni Pani Jungle Lodge, Satpura National Park and Tiger Reserve - http://www.renipanijunglelodge.com/
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